Why Giving Matters

Some people were sitting in a ship,when one of them took a drill and began to bore a hole under his seat.The other passengers began to protest to him, “What are you doing?”He said to them, “What has this to do with you?Am I not boring the hole under my own seat?”They retorted, “But the water will come in and drown us all.”Leviticus Rabbah 4:6

Based on 2010 Data in Illinois:

♦ 2.7 million people volunteered♦ 26.9% of residents volunteered - ranking Illinois as 29th among the 50 states and Washington DC♦ Volunteers gave 347 hours of service♦ The average amount of service was 34.8 hours per resident - ranking them 28th among the 50 states and Washington DC♦ The total dollar values of service time was $7.4 billion♦ The average value of a volunteer hour is $22.74

The world is full of ordinary everyday heroes, men and women who give of themselves in service to others, ready to plug the hole made by someone else.

Thomas Merton tells us, “There are no innocent bystanders, only bystanders.” None of us live isolated lives. Everyone is connected to another and together we weave the web of life. Together we set the standard for our communities, giving the best of ourselves in service to people whose lives have been touched by poverty, hunger, violence, deprivation, despair, illness or circumstances that for whatever reason overwhelmed their lives.

It is the energy, skills, gifts and talents of community volunteers that help Shelter Care continue to provide an open door at Jubilee Center, loving hands at MAYA’S House and a source of mentoring and supplies in the Housing Program. Volunteers help with fundraisers, answer phones in the office, sit on committees and serve on the board of directors. Shelter Care will provide the resources so that anyone can make a difference in the lives of the members and residents we serve.

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.

Erma Bombeck

Volunteers make a significant difference in the life and health of community service organizations, with volunteers providing a wide range of support services from fundraising to direct client engagement. At Shelter Care, volunteers are the extension of our programs and can and do provide a variety of gifts in service to our mission.

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